(May 19, 2011)--As part of College Week in San Antonio, UTSA President Ricardo Romo encourages UTSA community members to wear a UTSA t-shirt and our orange-and-blue on Friday, May 20 to show support for the pursuit of higher education. Students, employees and other supporters at colleges, universities, retailers and businesses across the city will wear college t-shirts on Friday.

College Week is an initiative of San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro to boost the idea of attending college. Events are scheduled throughout the week, culminating in College Signing Day at the AT&T Center at 1 p.m., Sunday, May 22. UTSA President Ricardo Romo, UTSA mascot Rowdy and representatives from other area colleges and universities will be part of the Sunday event.

"The mayor sees this as a great way to plant the seed of earning a college degree in the next generation, and I agree 100 percent," said Romo. "Due to my parents' expectations, I automatically knew college was the next step for me. And, if we can encourage that type of commitment citywide and help our young students navigate the process of attending university, I know we can transform the educational level of our city within the next 10 years."

On Monday, Castro kicked off of College Week at Cafe College in downtown San Antonio. The initiative, which the mayor organized with Cafe College, the San Antonio Education Partnership and Generation TX, is "a great way of telling the next generation of students that this is what we expect, this is what we want for you," said Castro. "Getting and education is the key to fulfilling your dreams."

"We want to enshrine and celebrate academic accomplishment the same way we do athletic accomplishment," said the mayor. "It's a great way of telling the next generation of students that this is what we expect, this is what we want for you. We want to create a city of tremendous opportunity in the 21st century."

Cafe College is a city resource where students can get information on how to apply for college and financial aid. At Cafe College, the San Antonio Education Partnership College Access and success advisers provide assistance with these key services:

This high school student exhibit features images, videos, interviews and writings that the students learned about while participating in "The Will to Adorn: African American Dress and the Aesthetics of Identity."
Institute of Texan Cultures, Hemisfair Campus

This ceremony honors graduates from the College of Business, College of Engineering, the College of Public Policy and College of Sciences. U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro will deliver the keynote address.
Alamodome. 100 Montana St., Downtown San Antonio

Graduates from the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning, College of Education and Human Development, College of Liberal and Fine Arts, and University College will hear from Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
Alamodome. 100 Montana St., Downtown San Antonio

President Taylor Eighmy invites UTSA faculty and staff to Tacos With Taylor. Take this opportunity to introduce yourself to Dr. Eighmy at any one of these casual meet and greets. Breakfast tacos will be served while supplies last.
Institute of Texan Cultures, Hemisfair Campus

Join the UTSA Small Business Development Center for a day of learning, skill-building, and professional development that will kick-start your small business ambitions in 2018.
Institute of Texan Cultures, Hemisfair Campus

A five-day bus tour of civil rights movement landmarks, studying leadership through the lens of social justice history. Student participants deliver prepared reflections on their learning and application goals. All UTSA community members welcome.
University Center, Denman Room (UC 2.01.28), Main Campus

UTSA's Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA's Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA's Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.